Saturday, August 13, 2011

I will confess that Mrs. Sax and I left the game early, saving us from having to watch the frustrating bottom of the ninth, but also denying us from watching Matt Kemp's walk-off single in the tenth. Such is the cross borne by the user of babysitters, but it was tough to only hear, but not see, Kemp's game-winning heroics.

The Dodgers are the majors' only undefeated team in extra innings, so maybe Kemp knew it was coming? Maybe the MVP contender was already resigned to the fact that it was up to him, again, to have to save the team's bacon? Or maybe Kemp is just so above it all, so locked in, that it's a zen-like state where he confidently knows he will deliver?

In any event, seeing the highlight of Kemp "fisting" (to use Vin Scully's term) that ball just into short right field for the game-winner was awesome, and what was even more awesome was seeing him playfully evade the waiting arms of Tony Gwynn (with a sweet juke move) and then Andre Ethier and a couple of other Dodgers in the field. Kemp looked just like a kid, smiling ear to ear as he bobbed and weaved before the ensuing dogpile. (Link to the video here.)

That's the kind of spirit and love of the game that has been missing in so much of this season, and it's awesome to see it in our Crowley offensive jewel, Matt Kemp. Watching the video highlight even makes me giddy. And it reminds me of what I love as a Dodgers fan, even in a season as miserable as this one.